HISTORY OF THE pAMOJA PROJECT

Carol Parker had a lifelong dream of doing international public health work, but as a mother of four she was not able to travel to Africa and pursue that dream. Once her kids grew up and moved out, she decided to give that dream a second look. In 2004, she took a month-long volunteer opportunity to work with AIDS-affected people in Tanzania, helping poor families with end-of-life care. On the plane ride home Carol decided to return to Tanzania to continue helping these people. Not long after, she founded the Pamoja Project to provide support for orphaned children and the families who cared for them. As she shared her experience, Carol's friends, family, and community joined in. Within 2 years Pamoja Project was supporting dozens of orphans, offering tailoring training and developing a micro-finance lending program.

As treatment for AIDS became available in developing countries, the Pamoja Project's focus shifted to helping vulnerable children and families, as well as people living with HIV/AIDS, by asking them, face to face, "What do you need?" Before long Pamoja Project was providing a full plate of supports to help Tanzanians living in poverty develop a better quality of life. For instance, in 2009 Pamoja Project began a collaborative project with Proctor & Gamble's Children's Safe Drinking Water Initiative. A series of building projects, including a solar-powered orphanage and a new latrine for Ambureni Primary School have been completed. Soon a welding program for teen boys will be added to the vocational options available to local youth.

We look to the future with hope and excitement. With your help we will continue to provide the important building blocks for Tanzanians who are creating a better life for themselves and their country. For more information about Tanzania and it's people, go to About Tanzania.